The trailhead for Glacier Point.
We left our crappy campsite at Crane Flat at 6:00 in the morning and Nancy got in line at the campground office in Yosemite Valley at 6:45 while I made breakfast. Oh, how the other campers queuing in line envied her oatmeal and coffee.
We scored a cancelled campsite in the Valley, moved in, and immediately took off to hike the Four Mile Trail up to Glacier Point.
After a mile or so, the trees begin to open up.
The trail climbs 3,200’ in 4.6 miles, and features beautiful views of El Capitan, Yosemite Falls, and eventually Half Dome.
A panorama of Yosemite Valley, with the Cathedral Rocks, El Capitan, The Brothers and the Merced River.
Half Dome—our goal for tomorrow.
The trail was paved decades ago, and so is a combination of broken up asphalt, rocks and dirt.
Half Dome comes into view on one of the switchbacks about halfway up, and is stunning.
The view of Half Dome from Glacier Point.
The trail is a pleasant hike, despite the elevation gain, as you are mostly in the shade and the views are spectacular. A final section through the trees takes you up to Glacier Point and its crowds of people.
Glacier Point gets busloads of tourists coming up from the valley. It has a general store and a large observation area.
Half Dome, Clouds Rest behind it, and Tenaya Canyon.
We walked out to an area of granite below the main observation deck and had our lunch while gazing at Half Dome and Tenaya Canyon.
Yosemite Falls is completely dry this time of year
The weather was perfect, the people on the trail were sparse, the mosquitoes were non-existent.
The only drawback: no waterfalls.
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